Dental X-ray film identifier



Dec. 4, 1945. F. J. STADLER 2,390,397

DENTAL X-RAY FILM IDENTIFIER Filed Jah. 18, 1945 A, INVENTOR. i FrM/wr F. 5/710 Patented Dec. 4, 1945 U'N I 'F EB STAT E S G E-FEE.

DENTAIiXRE-AY Franklifiitadler, New. York,.,N.'-.YI

Application January 18, 1945, Serial No. 573,370;

(-(-3l.' 25(le6"i) 4. Claims...

This invention" relates to adental X-ray' film packet, and one of its objectsisto'provide a device for: positively identifying" the pictureobtained by exposing, the film; in the mouthof" a patient, before X--rays, ,so' that the dentist may avoid the present objectionable practice" of writingjthe name of the patient on the film; after' its development.

Another" object of" the invention is' the provision of a system foridentifyingindividual X-ray dental films; so thatith'e reading side" of'the fllm may be instantlyidentified' and this done" by' a' keyed identification marking", producedbyexposureoftheifilm in making-thedental picture, which will enable the dentist" to accuratelyclas sify the picture" and assign it" to the properpatient;

With' the above and other objectsin. view; the invention relates to certain newendusefufcoirstructions. combinations and: arrangements of parts. clearly illustrated in the: accompanying drawing, and fully" described in the following specification. In the drawing:

Fig; 1' isa plan View; enlarged; of a closed dent'al X-ray" film packet, showing; attached" identifying' means;

upon itself.

Fig. 8 is a plan view, showing a similar arran ement for identifying letters.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the practical a plication of the invention. 5 designates a standard X-ray dental film packet, which encloses a film 6, usually coated with sensitive emulsion on both sides to prevent curling,

On the film packet 5 I place aU-shaped clip 1, which includes the short arm or jaw 8 and the long arm or jaw 9, and, the connecting bend In, which is shown to be cut-out at Illa, so that the two arms or jaws may be. folded more easily upon each other. t

The short arm 8 is provided with an identifying astobe permanently fused to the stook-ofi the clip:

The stocli' of the clip -isa transparent plastic material, which will resist boiling; and. which; therefore; can-be s-terilized the-presencecfboilingwater"or-"stea-rnz Qneofthe identifying clips may be repeatedlymsedl The siiort arm ofthecli'p isplaced on the sideof the dental film' packet 'facingthe X-rays; and

the identifying s'y-nrbol or letter H is printed orformed on theshort javv so-that when thesymbol is; photograph-Rally impressed by" the action oftiie X raysupOn thedBntaIfilm; it will appear in positive-orcorrect reading order; when the-film is examinedon studied fromthe proper side thereof 5 By identifying the correct reading side of the symbol or letterthe-dentist'is thusable to establi'sliwliich is the prcperposition of the'film, so ti'rat in readingthe picture liewill notbe confused as to whether a tooth is right or left.

The long arm of the clip may be provided with a symbol or letter l2. identical to the symbol or letter impressed on the short arm or jaw of the clip. so that the dentist can identify any filmv packet without turning it over. Due to the fact that the long arm is always located behind the film packet when it is presented to the X-rays. the letter or svmbol on the long arm will not print on the dental film.

When a given symbol or letter, or a combination of symbols. is used for a particular patient, then the dentist records on the record of the patient this symbol or combination of symbols, and

' confusion is avoided in all future handling of the film.

In Fig. 3 I show a clip 1a, which is provided with a short jaw 8a and a lon jaw 9a, connected to each other by the bend lllb, which is cut-out at Illa. The short arm or jaw 8a is provided with an identifying symbol or letter I la, which is cut out in the form of a stencil, and this clip may be made of metal or any material, which will not corrode in the presence of water or steam.

In Fig. 6 I show a clip 1c, having a short jaw or arm 80, and a long jaw or arm 9c, connected to each other by means of the bend Mic. The short arm 80 is provided with a struck out symbol IS in the form of a numeral. The stock of this clip may be of any material which will resist corrosion in the presence of steam or water.

In Fig. 5 I showa portion of a dental film packet 5a, having a plurality of identifying clips thereon. One of these clips is provided with the identifying symbol or letter E, another with the identifying symbol or letter T, and another is provided.

with the identifying symbol or letter N. The stock of these clips may be a boilable plastic or what is known in the trade as boilable Lucite, of the clear or fully transparent type, and the letters or symbols may be printed thereon in metallic ink, or cutout and attached by any satisfactory method to the stock. correspond to the initials of the patients name, or may be selected arbitrarily.

, In Fig. 7 I show a blank is which is provided with a stamped form [7, shown to be the outline of the numeral I, and bendable over and against the blank E6. The identification is established by the printing effect of the profile of theform I1, which may be any symbol or letter, or numeral. The blank I6 is also provided with small projections 55, which are adapted to bite into the covering material of the film packet to prevent the folded and attached clip from slipping from the packet.

In Fig. 8 I show a blank l8, which is provided with a bendable form l9, stamped out to represent the letter E. The blank I8 is formed with nonslip projections I 8'. r

When the dental picture is taken, the X-rays wil1 stream from the equipment placed in confronting position to the head of the patient, pass through the teeth or gum area and activate the dental film, enclosed in the packet. It is necessary, therefore, that the symbol which is transferredto the dental film, by the action of the X- rays, appear on the outside of the clip in negative form, so that it will appear in positive or correct reading position on the developed film, and the correct reading side of the film may be thus established by determining the positive reading position of the identifying symbol.

When the clip is constructed of material other than boilable transparent plastic, or Lucite, stencil letter or symbol forms, or profile letter or symbol forms, may be used. In this case chromium plated brass or steel, stainless steel, or alumiinum may be used.

The dental film packet is embossed by an indentation 5a, which is also impressed upon the The combination of symbols may a edge portion of the dental X-ray film 6, as indicated at 6a. This will form a projection on one side of the film and a depression on the opposite side. The side which has the projection is the positive reading side of the film and the side that has the depression is the negative reading side of the film.

It is understoodthat various-changes in the details of construction, their combination and arrangement, may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, as defined in the claims hereof.

Having described my invention I claim as new:

1. The combination with adental X-ray film packet, of a transparent clip attachable to one side edge of the packet and producible onthe film when the film is exposed to X-rays in making a dental picture, said clip having a stcncilled portion so constructed that it can be produced in positive order on the film when attached to the packet to correctly indicate and identify the reading side of the film.

2. The combination with a dental X-ray film packet, of a transparent plastic clip attachable to an edge of the packet and rovided with an identifying symbol printed thereon in metallic ink capable of being photographically impressed upon the film in dental X-ray exposure.

3. The combination with a dental X-ray film packet, of a U-shaped clip detachably connected with the film, and constructed of transparent material having a symbol thereon which can be photographically impressed upon the dental film in X-ray dental exposure.

4. The identifying attachment for dental X-ray film packets, consisting of a clip of transparent plastic attachable to an edge of the packet and having an identifying symbol printed thereon in metallic ink capable of being photographically impressed on dental film when attached thereto and exposed to X-rays in the making of a dental picture.

FRANK J. STADLER. 

